The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans at events in Oceanside, Calif. and Salt Lake City, Utah. EPA’s 27th and 28th WIFIA loans will provide more than $415 million to help the local communities finance important water infrastructure projects—supporting anRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken another step to address the environmental challenges posed by harmful algal blooms (HABs) by announcing $6,487,188 in funding to seven institutions to research how to prevent and control HABs using current and new technologies. With the announcement, EPA under President Donald TrumpRead More

By Mike Keegan After withstanding numerous preemptive judicial challenges, the Trump administration’s version of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) went into effect on June 22. The Trump rule circumscribed the federal regulatory power over U.S. waters compared to the 2015 Obama administration’s rule which circumscribed the previous ruleRead More

With three years of solid results, WIFIA looks poised for long-term success. But the program could also be a very effective part of the federal response to COVID-19. By John Ryan The U.S. EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Loan Program (WIFIA) was enacted in 2014 and became operationalRead More

In July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule to reduce lead in plumbing materials used in public water systems, homes, schools and other facilities. The agency says the action marks a significant milestone in implementing the Trump Administration’s Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead ExposuresRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the 2020 notice of funding availability under its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, including funding for WIFIA’s new state infrastructure financing authority, known as the SWIFIA program. These funding programs accelerate investment in critical water infrastructure through innovative andRead More

As the start of the federal Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) rapidly approaches on October 1st, the U.S. House has begun working to advance its annual Appropriations (funding) bills through their committee process. Last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed its Interior and Environment bill to fund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Read More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a $513 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in California to help finance needed pretreatment and other related improvements to its Southeast Treatment Plant, which treats 80 percent of San Francisco’sRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new tool to help water utilities assess the financial impact of COVID-19 on operations. Throughout the COVID-19 national health emergency — and as communities across the country reopen — water utilities have reliably provided safe drinking water and critical wastewater services.Read More

Nine leading water associations are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use “sound science and robust analyses” as it evaluates drinking water standards for two per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), Association of Metropolitan WaterRead More